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KR-102963870-B1 - Device for metering additives to a fluid

KR102963870B1KR 102963870 B1KR102963870 B1KR 102963870B1KR-102963870-B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (100) for measuring an additive to a fluid, wherein the device (100) comprises a valve body (101), a fluid inlet (102), and a fluid outlet (103), wherein a first channel system within the valve body (101) extends between the fluid inlet (102) and the fluid outlet (103) within the valve body (101), and a second channel system extends between the fluid inlet (102) and the fluid outlet (103), so that in an operating state, a fluid flows through either the first channel system from the fluid inlet (102) to the fluid outlet (103) or the second channel system from the fluid inlet (102) to the fluid outlet (103). A switching device (104) is provided that switches when the cartridge (11) is docked, and when the cartridge (11) is connected to the docking element (120), the second channel system is fluidly connected to the cartridge (11).

Inventors

  • 비드머, 마르쿠스

Assignees

  • 엘알피 아게

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20210707
Priority Date
20200710

Claims (15)

  1. In a device (10, 50, 100) for supplying an additive to a fluid, It includes a valve body (1, 101), a fluid inlet (2, 102), and a fluid outlet (3, 103), and The first channel system within the valve body (1, 101) extends between the fluid inlet (2, 102) and the fluid outlet (3, 103) within the valve body (1, 101), and The second channel system extends between the fluid inlet (2, 102) and the fluid outlet (3, 103), so that in an operating state, fluid flows through either the first channel system from the fluid inlet (2, 102) to the fluid outlet (3, 103) or the second channel system from the fluid inlet (2, 102) to the fluid outlet (3, 103). The above valve body (1, 101) includes a docking element (20, 120) for docking a cartridge (11) for an additive, and A switchable switching device (4, 5, 28, 104) is provided so that when the cartridge (11) is connected to the docking element (20, 120), the second channel system is fluidly connected to the cartridge (11), and when the cartridge (11) is connected to the docking element (20, 120), a switchable switching device (4, 5, 28, 104) is provided so that when the cartridge (11) is connected to the docking element (20, 120), the second channel system is fluidly connected to the cartridge (11). The above docking element (20, 120) is characterized by including an internal screw configured to be coupled with an external screw (19) of the cartridge neck. Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  2. In Article 1, The above switching device (4, 5, 28, 104) includes an inlet passage (21, 121) for supplying fluid to the cartridge (11) and an outlet passage (22, 122) for removing the fluid containing the additive from the cartridge (11). Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  3. In Article 1 or Article 2, If the addition of the above additive is not required, the fluid inlet (2, 102) is connected to the fluid outlet (3, 103) through the overflow passage (14, 15, 114). Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  4. In Paragraph 3, The overflow passage (14, 15, 114) is formed between the cover (12, 112) and the switching device (4, 5, 28, 104) when the switching device (4, 5, 28, 104) is in the first position, Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  5. In Paragraph 3, The above overflow passage (14, 15, 114) is closed when the switching device (4, 5, 28, 104) is in the second position, Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  6. In Article 1 or Article 2, The above switching device (4, 5) includes an inlet plunger (4), an outlet plunger (5), and a separating element (28). Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  7. In Article 6, The above inlet plunger (4) includes a base body (41) and a base element (42), and The shoulder (43) forms a transition between the base body (41) and the base element (42), and The above-mentioned discharge plunger (5) includes a base body (51) and a base element (52), and The shoulder (53) constitutes a transition between the base body (51) and the base element (52). Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  8. In Article 7, The above base element (42) includes an axial bore (44), and The first spring element (8) is placed within the axial bore (44), and The above base element (52) includes an axial bore (54), and A second spring element (9) is disposed within the axial bore (54), Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  9. In Article 7, An inlet seal (6) is placed on the shoulder (43), and A discharge seal (7) is placed on the shoulder (53), Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  10. In Article 1 or Article 2, The above switching device (4, 5, 104) can be switched from a first position to a second position by docking to the cartridge (11), and At the second position, the inlet passage (21, 121) is opened to supply the fluid to the cartridge, and the outlet passage (22, 122) is opened to discharge the fluid containing the additive from the cartridge. Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  11. In Article 1 or Article 2, The above switching device includes a displacement body (13, 113). Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
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  13. In Article 1 or Article 2, The above docking element (20, 120) is disposed within a recess of the valve body (1, 101), Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  14. In Article 1 or Article 2, The valve body comprises a seal (29, 129) disposed between the fluid inlet (2, 102) or the fluid outlet (3, 103) and the docking element (20, 120). Device for supplying additives to a fluid.
  15. In a method for supplying an additive to a fluid, The above method relates to a device comprising a valve body (1, 101), a fluid inlet (2, 102), and a fluid outlet (3, 103), A first channel system within the valve body (1, 101) extends between a fluid inlet (2, 102) and a fluid outlet (3, 103) within the valve body (1, 101), and a second channel system extends between the fluid inlet (2, 102) and the fluid outlet (3, 103), so that in an operating state, fluid flows through either the first channel system from the fluid inlet (2, 102) to the fluid outlet (3, 103) or the second channel system from the fluid inlet (2, 102) to the fluid outlet (3, 103). When the fluid passes through the first channel system, no additive is added to the fluid, and when the fluid passes through the second channel system, an additive is added to the fluid, and A docking element (20, 120) comprising an internal screw configured to engage with an external screw (19) of a cartridge neck, A method for supplying additives to a fluid.

Description

Device for metering additives to a fluid The present invention relates to a device for metering additives to a fluid, for example, to a device for metering additional fluids, gases, or solids that are soluble or disperseable in the fluid. In particular, the device is suitable for descaling a device for producing hot beverages. In particular, the device comprises a valve for supplying additives to the fluid. The device is particularly suitable for supplying said descaling agent to a water supply channel of a brewing device or a device for producing hot beverages. Conventional known valves for metering additives to a fluid, for example, valves for removing scale from a brewing device or coffee machine having a water connection, include switching of the valve and/or removal and attachment of the line. A disadvantage of previously known solutions is that they are susceptible to errors when removing scale from brewing devices or coffee machines. Valves may be switched incorrectly, or lines may be removed or attached incorrectly. Furthermore, removing scale from these brewing devices is costly because the process is too complex and prone to errors by operators, so it often has to be performed by a technician. Literature US20140060338 A1 discloses a descaling system for a beverage machine having a bypass line arranged with a cartridge containing a water-soluble descaling tablet. The connection to the bypass line is opened through a three-way valve so that water flows into the cartridge, the descaling agent is released from the descaling tablet, and the descaling solution is supplied to the brewing device. When the three-way valve is closed, water remains in the bypass line, and the descaling agent can still be dissolved in this water. The longer the flow to the bypass line is blocked, the higher the concentration of the water-soluble descaling agent becomes. Therefore, the concentration of the descaling agent depends on the elapsed time between two descaling cycles. If the concentration is too low, descaling may be incomplete, and if it is too high, components in contact with the descaling agent solution of too high concentration may corrode. To prevent these disadvantages, according to EP 3 501 351 A1, a cartridge containing a liquid care product may be used. The cartridge includes a check valve in the cartridge neck, and the check valve can be opened by an opening element of a coupling device at the end of the metering line. Thus, for this solution, a special cartridge with a check valve is required, configured to match the opening element of the coupling device. Additionally, a metering pump is required for the delivery of the liquid care product, and this metering pump pumps the liquid care product through the metering line into the water line of the beverage machine. Another variant requiring the use of a special cartridge is disclosed in DE 10 2011 08 10 10 A1. Therefore, for scale removal performed by a simple method using a scale remover of a predetermined concentration, for example, for scale removal in a device for preparing hot beverages, an improved device for metering additives to the fluid is required. The device according to the present invention is illustrated as follows according to some exemplary embodiments. FIG. 1 illustrates a device according to a first embodiment having a cartridge at a first position. FIG. 2 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 having a cartridge in a second position. Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the device of Figure 2. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 4 having a cartridge in a second position. Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the device of Figure 4. FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a device according to a third embodiment of a first position. FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a device according to a third embodiment at a second position. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of using a device according to one of the prior embodiments for a device for preparing a hot beverage. FIG. 1 illustrates a device (10) for metering an additive, such as a descaling agent, into a fluid for descaling a device for preparing a hot beverage, according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the device is installed in a fluid line belonging to the device. To this end, a fluid inlet (2) (schematically illustrated) and a fluid outlet (3) are provided. Both the fluid inlet (2) and the fluid outlet (3) may have an adapter element (not shown) for connecting to a fluid pipe. The device (10) includes a first channel system extending between the fluid inlet (2) and the fluid outlet (3), and a second channel system extending between the fluid inlet (2) and the fluid outlet (3), so that fluid may flow from the fluid inlet (2) to the fluid outlet (3) through the first channel system or from the fluid inlet (2) to the fluid outlet (3) through the